Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an Existing Collection and Comment Request; Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this document announces that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: “Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting” and identified by EPA ICR No. 2415.04 and OMB Control No. 2070-0188, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2021. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and comment.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before June 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0692, by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

Due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) and Reading Room is closed to visitors with limited exceptions. The staff continues to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. For the latest status information on EPA/DC services and docket access, visit https://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carolyn Siu, Mission Support Division, Office of Program Support, (7101M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 347-1249; email address: siu.carolyn@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What information is EPA particularly interested in?

Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility.

2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used.

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply to?

Title: Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting.

ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2415.04.

OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0188.

ICR status: The existing ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 31, 2021. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers for certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: This ICR covers the information collection activities associated with voluntary participation in the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program (PESP). The program uses the information collected to establish partner membership, develop stewardship strategies, measure progress towards stewardship goals, and award incentives. PESP is an EPA partnership program that encourages the use of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to reduce pests and pesticide risks. IPM is an approach that involves making the best choices from among a series of Pest management practices that are both economical and pose the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

PESP member includes pesticide end-users and organizations which focus on training, educating, and/or influencing pesticide users. To become a PESP member, an organization submits an application and a five-year strategy outlining how environmental and human health risk reduction goals will be achieved through IPM implementation and/or education. The program encourages PESP members to track progress towards IPM goals such as: reductions in unnecessary use of pesticides, cost reductions, and knowledge shared about IPM methodologies. Entities participating in PESP also benefit from technical assistance, and through incentives for achievements at different levels.

Form Numbers: EPA Form No. 9600-01, 9600-02, and 9600-03.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this ICR are pesticide user companies and organizations, or entities that practice IPM or promote the use of IPM through education and training.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: 419 (total).

Frequency of response: Annual and on occasion.

Total estimated burden: 50,093 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)

Total estimated cost: $3,501,544 (per year). This is the estimated burden cost; there are no capital investment or maintenance and operational costs for this information collection.

III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

There is an increase of 2,428 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's updating of burden estimates for this collection based upon historical information on the number of PESP members. Based on revised estimates, the number of IPM Promoters has decreased, while the number of IPM users has increased, and the number of National IPM users has decreased since the last ICR renewal. Although the estimated burden per response has not changed for any category, the shift in membership types has resulted in a net increase in the overall burden.

In addition, OMB has requested that EPA move towards using the 18-question format for ICR Supporting Statements used by other federal agencies and departments and is based on the submission instructions established by OMB in 1995, replacing the alternate format developed by EPA and OMB prior to 1995. EPA intends to update this Supporting Statement during the comment period to reflect the 18-question format, and has included the questions in an attachment to this Supporting Statement. In doing so, the Agency does not expect the change in format to result in substantive changes to the information collection activities or related estimated burden and costs.

IV. What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.